JLP MPs to decide fate of party leader

Members of Parliament on the Opposition bench are to meet tomorrow at the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) Belmont Road headquarters in St Andrew to decide the fate of their leader, Andrew Holness.

The meeting was announced for Friday, but was postponed until tomorrow. The meeting, called by leader of Opposition Business in the lower house, Derrick Smith, has been scheduled for 10:00 tomorrow morning.

It was called following last last Wednesday's ruling by the Appeal Court that Holness' move to oust senators Arthur Williams and Dr Christopher Tufton from the Upper House through the use of pre-signed undated resignation letters was unconstitutional.

The court also criticised Holness for submitting the letters to the governor general and issued a stern warning that a leader of the opposition is not authorised to submit a letter of resignation for a senator.

Smith declined to speculate what the result would be from tomorrow's meeting, given the public utterances of some JLP MPs that the Opposition Leader had embarrassed the party and should step down.

Delroy Chuck has been among the most vocal, resigning from the shadow cabinet as Spokesperson on Justice and Legal Affairs. He says Holness' actions have damaged his own image and the image of the party.
Smith, however, has said that he maintains his support for Holness and predicts that he will emerge stronger following the debacle.